If you’re planning on making a major change to your yard you may need to know how to measure a backyard. Most people measure their backyard to get the right size so they can install sod, otherwise known as grass.
Thankfully measuring a backyard isn’t as difficult as it initially sounds. There is some mathematics required, sure, but nothing more intense than simple algebra.
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Measuring the Points
The first thing you’ll need to do is to measure the individual lengths of each section of your yard. To do this you’ll need to physically measure out the edge of each of your borders.
This is best for simple yards that are square, rectangular or have firm lines that don’t slope. Once you have this measurement, you’ll need to go on to the equation part of the matter.
Measuring your yard can have a wide variety of uses, including helping you calculate where you could install an addition, such as a koi pond.
The Equation
This initial equation is pretty simple, firstly you’ll assign each measurement a letter, for example, A, B, C and so on. This is just so we can accurately portray how to handle the equation.
Then you’ll multiply A times B, and then C times D considering you should have roughly four to six different measurements depending on the complexity of your yard. Note this method really only works on simple square and rectangle yards.
Then you add the totals together, which ends up being squared because of the two you began with, and that is your measurement. Most of the time we see people measuring in meters squared, making the measurement all the easier to follow.
This equation makes it easier to figure out the measurement of your yard sure, but it also can help you calculate a lot of other things. Such as where and how you can remove standing water in your yard, which can be seriously damaging.
Simple Yards
The simple measuring and completing the equation we went over above is great for simple yards. This takes the guesswork out of struggling to answer how to measure a backyard.
These simple yards are usually built of squares, rectangles, or a combination of both. This makes the calculations easy, which puts you on a fast track to getting your backyard project done.
Simple yards are the easiest to manage when it comes to measurements but they’re not the only yards that you can make measurements for. If your yard is more elaborate than the initial square or rectangle of land it may be easier to measure your yard with another method.
Complex Yards
Complex yards still have a very helpful solution, though the solution is just as complex as your yard. This solution has a little more guessing than algebra, but you’ll still need to measure it effectively.
Firstly you’ll take a variety of measurements at a variety of points, and you’ll then use a piece of graph paper to sketch out your garden to scale on those points. This will give you the approximate shape, and size.
You can then see where your twists and turns are and can then estimate from the number of blocks in the graphing paper, and partial blocks that are filled, to find what you’re measurement is. This option takes a lot of guessing and a lot of measurements.
The more measurements the better though, for it will take a portion of the guesswork out of the measurement. If you doubt your measurements at any point you should always round up a little, roughly 5 percent, just to be sure you can cover your area properly.
Need a Different Measurement?
If you accidentally made your measurements in feet or yards and it needs to be in meters you don’t need to fret. You can easily convert one measurement to another with either your own wit or the internet.
All you’d need to do is search the first measurement you did to the one you need. For example, feet to meters. You can also use a conversion site to help you learn about and make those conversions.
These conversions aren’t difficult to do, but you can always redo them, or consult a landscaping expert if you’re unsure of your own measurements.
Once you have the right measurement, you’ll be able to start laying sod, landscaping or tackling any other backyard project you might have in mind.
Can’t Figure it Out?
Don’t fret if you can’t figure out the calculations on your own, math isn’t the easiest subject for some. Thankfully, there are basic turf generators that can be used to judge the measurements of your backyard.
These generators take the mathematics out of the equation. You just plug in the numbers, and it calculates for you, leaving you able to just focus on your project instead of the math.
Giving you an accurate measurement in square feet so you know exactly what you’re working with. This is important as it gets you started on your backyard project right away.
If all of this still doesn’t work out for you, or if you doubt that accuracy, you can always consult a landscaper. They would have the knowledge and experience to be able to give you an accurate measurement of your yard without difficulty.
Measuring Your Backyard has Never Been Easier
You can walk through the basic equation on your own, or you can plug the information into a turf generator and make the computer do it for you. Either way, you get to measure your backyard with little to no effort at all.
You don’t have to hire someone to figure out the measurements or boggle your mind trying to solve problems that don’t exist. As long as you don’t overthink it, you’ll have the measurement of your yard in no time.
So get ready to break out your shovel and tackle whatever backyard project you have in mind. Knowing how to measure a backyard is just the first step.
